Elevator gate



Dec. 9, 1958 ELEVATOR GATE Filed NOV. 25, 1956 V. C. BOWSER 3 Sheets-Sheet '1 INVENTOR We 6 /L C. Boa 5E2 ATTORNE Y S Dec. 9, 1958 Filed Nov. 23, 1956 (b) (c) (d e) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 26m) 26 w I I 24 i-hm or 26 o 26' XXX Al I A I INVENTOR VIRGIL C. BOWSER ATTORNEY Dec. 9, 1958 v. c. BOWSER ELEVATOR GATE Filed Nov. 23, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 V/RGIL C'. BOWSER AITO United States Patent 30 ELEVATOR GATE Virgil C. Bowser, Des Moines, Iowa, assignor to The Bowser Parking System, Inc., Des Moines, llowa, a corporation of Iowa Application November 23, 1956, Serial No. 624,010 12 Claims. (Cl. 187--60) This invention relates to improvements in elevators and in particular to gate operating mechanism.

This application is a continuation in part of application Serial No. 545,829, filed November 9, 1955, now abandoned.

Elevators in buildings such as automatic parking garages of the type constructed with a plurality of floors or levels having storage stalls or spaces are provided with elevator gates which prevent movement on or 01f the elefore an object of this invention is to provide a novel gate operating mechanism with which the elevator and batchway gates are simultaneously operable yet with which safe operation is assured at all times.

In operating mechanism such as disclosed herein the elevator car gates are provided with means which is operable to engage the hatchway gate and cause the latter to open as the elevator gate is open. Obviously thisopen able means must be disengaged from the hatchway gate when the elevator is to be moved or else the equipment will be damaged. Although interlock type mechanism has been heretofore provided for use with similar equipment one of the objects of this invention is to provide a positive acting interlock construction which will insure full disengagement of the car carried means for operating the hatchway gates before the car moves.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved car gate operating mechanism having means for opening hatchway gates which includes means for positively closing the hatchway gates and preventing operation of the elevator carwhile the hatchway gates are open.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a 2,863,529 Patented Dec. 9, 1958 but with some elements being deleted because of scale limitations.

Figure 3 is a front fragmentary perspective view illustrating the gate dog elements seen in Figure 2 but on a still larger scale and more completely showing these elements.

Figure 4 is a rear fragmentary perspective view of the elements illustrated in Figure 3 with some elements being indicated by dotted lines to improve the showing.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional elevational view taken on line 5--5 of Figure 3 but showing the mechanism in an operated position and on a larger scale than used in Figure 3 and fragmentarily showing a hatchway gate in association therewith.

Figure 6 is a sectional plan view taken along line 6 -6 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional elevational view fragmentarily showing a hatchway gate associated with the car gate.

Figure 8 is a diagrammatic representation of a portion of the operating mechanism of Figure 1.

Similar reference characters represent similar parts in the several figures.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, wherein the same numerals represent the same structure in the various views, the elevator is designated at 10, and the hatchway gates are designated as 12. Elevator 10 is provided with two elevator gates 14 and cable system 16, the latter being used to lift the elevator 10. An instrument panel 18 is provided in elevator car 10 to control the movement of the elevator car. Such structure is described in detail in Patent Number 2,663,436.

The elevator car gates are operated by means of a geared motor 20, which operates shaft 22. Shaft 22 is supported in bearings 24 and at each end of the shaft a crank 26 is affixed thereto. Shaft 22 andcranks 26 rotate in either direction. Cranks 26 are pivotally connected to links 28 which are in turn connected to arms .30. The connections are effected by universal joints 25 and 27; with joint 27 being connected to shaft 29. Arms 30 are pivotally connected at 32 to brackets 34 which in turn are fixed to the elevator car. Arms 30 are connected to gates 14 attheir outer ends 36 through cables 38. The cables 38 are connected to the respective car gates 14 through levers 40 referred to as angle levers (see Fig. 4) which form part of the dog mechanism which will be described more in'detail below. The car gate is raised by the operation of motor 20 which turns shaft 22 which in turn rotates cranks 26. This rotation is automatically stopped atthe end of a 180 cycle, by a cutout switch operated off a cam of shaft 22. The cutout switch mechanism is not shown in detail but can comprise a switch 42 r and a cam 44. The wiring, cam arrangement, and connovel gate lifting means adapted to accelerate the gate raising and lowering operations to a relatively high speed and then decelerate them to a relatively low speed'as the operations are completed thus reducing strain and wear. A related objectis to provide such a lifting means with a safety device for discontinuing the lifting operation in the event the gates strike objections or otherwise get hung up or are arrested while being raised.

Other and more detailed objects are apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a sectional elevational view lengthwise of an elevator car.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of one end of the elevator car on a larger scale than used in Figure 1;

nection to the motor circuit is obvious to one skilled in the art. The rotation of shaft 22 raises arms 30 from their lowermost position to their uppermost position and car gates 14 are raised with the arms.

In order to raise and lower the car gates in conjunction with the hatchway gates, a gate dog-assembly is provided on each car gate. Part of this assembly is supported on car gate 14 by means of gate dog frame 46 secured to gate 14 by U bolts 47. Angle lever 40 is rotatably mounted on dog frame 46 by means of a pin 50. Pin 50 is supported on dog frame 46 as is also a stop plate 52. The latter is secured to frame 46 by a pair of angle lever stop pins 54 and 56 connected to plate 57. Plate 57 is connected to frame 46 by welding. Angle lever stop pins 54 and 56 are disposed to act as stops for limiting the movement of the horizontal arm of angel lever 40.

Movement of arm 30 upwardly is translated through cable 38 into a counter-clockwise rotation of angle lever 3 around pin (as viewed in Figure 4). Such rotation of lever 40 can continue until stop pin 54 is contacted.

Angle lever 40 comprises a vertical leg 58 and a horizontal leg 60. The vertical leg of angle lever 40 is provided with an extension 68 -whichfits into a slot 69 in a radial extension 70 of an up dog sleeve 72. Sleeve 72 is rotatably mounted on shaft 74, and shaft74 is connected to gate 14. Sleeve 72 rests on an enlargement 75 of shaft 74. A spring 76 which is secured at one end to a dog frame bracket 77, and at its other end to the vertical arm of angle lever 40 tends to pull the vertical arm of the angle lever 40 to the left as shown in Figure 4.

Sleeve 72 can freely rotate on shaft 74. In the illustrated embodiment shaft 74 is recessed to receive sleeve 72. The up dog comprises a claw element 80 which is fixed to sleeve 72 and extends radially from said sleeve. An up dog stop 82 is mounted on the dog frame 46 to limit the rotation of the dog to angular movement of about in the direction indicated by arrow 84.

Upward movement of cable 38 causes angle lever 40 to rotate counter-clockwise, as seen in Figure 4, until lever 40 comes into contact with upper stop pin 54 in plate 52. This movement oflever 40 causes a rotation of sleeve 72 about its vertical axis (by movement of member 68 of angle lever 40 and member 70 of sleeve 72). Claw member 80 of the up dog is rotated through a 90 angle by this movement of lever 40. .Claw. member 80 projects 90 outwardly with respect to car gate 14 and hatchway gate 12 and rests against dog stop 82 when angle lever 40 comes to rest against upper angle lever stop pin 54. In this position the up dog 72 can function to raise the hatchway gates.

To insure that there is no movement of the elevator car up or down when the up dog is in its extended position a switch assembly 86 is provided which renders the elevator inoperative when the up dog is in its extended position. The. switch assembly 86 comprises an-interlock counterweight 88 secured to an interlock lever 90. Lever 90 is secured to a shaft 92 which is supported in switch box 94. The switch box is in turn secured to the back of dog frame 46 by switch support 96 being connected to the latter by bolts 98. In its retracted position dog claw 80 abuts the inner surface of interlock lever 90 and prevents the rotation of lever 90 about shaft 92. When dog claw 80 is in its extended position interlock lever 90 is free to rotate and is caused to rotate outwardly by gravity acting on interlock counterweight 88.

To insure positive upward movement of the hatchway gate a means is provided for locking up dog claw 80.

Further a down dog is provided to insure positive closing of the hatchway gates. These features are found in structure consisting of the following: a roller 112 is mounted on a retracting arm 114 and the latter is secured to shaft 116 which is supported in bearing 118. Bearing 118 is supported on strap 119 and strap 119 is fixedly connected to car gate 14. A spring member 120 has one end connected to a collar 121 on shaft 116; the other end of spring member 120 being secured to a boss 122 mounted on the elevator car gate 14. A mechanical interlock arm 123 for up dog claw 80 is attached to a collar 124 and the latter is secured to shaft 116 adjacent the end opposite that bearing the roller 112. Also a down dog 125 is mounted on shaft 116 intermediate spring member 119 and mechanical interlock arm 123.

The down dog is attached to the collar 121 which is secured to shaft 116 and comprises a downwardly extending arm 126 connected to collar 121. Downwardly extending arm 126 is terminated by a step 128 which is laterally extending (with respect to arm 126). Stop 128 is in turn connected to a rearwardly and upwardly extending arm 130 (Figures 4 and 7). The latter terminates in a laterally extending stop plate 132. Stop plate 132 of the down dog comes to rest against down dog bearing support strap 119 when the dog is rotated outwardly about the axis of shaft 116.

A cam 138 is connected to the car frame 139 adjacent the side of gate 14 and roller 112 is adapted to cooperate with the cam. Roller 112 cooperates in contact with cam 138 when the car gate is closed.

When the car gate 14 raises about 3 inches roller 112 (which is mounted on the retracting arm 114) leaves cam 138 since spring 120, which is hooked to car gate 14 at one end and down dog collar 121 at the other end, rotates shaft 116 in bearing 118 in a clockwise direction (as viewed in Figure 7). This movement continues until down dog stop plate 132 comes in contact with strap 119. Mechanical interlock arm 123 also rotates with shaft 116, being connected thereto by collar 124. When arm 123 is rotated into the position seen in Figure 5 up dog claw 80 cannot be retracted.

The hatchway gate 12 comprises a longitudinal member 144 rigidly connected to the gate frame. The gate is provided with openings above and below member 144 of sufiicient size to permit dogs 80 and 125 to respectively project below and above member 144 during operation of the mechanism.

Referring particularly to Figures 2 and 8 wherein the crank 26 and arm 28 are illustrated in the normal rest position of the operating mechanism, that is in the position assumed when the gates are closed, it will be noticed that crank 26 and arm 28 extend vertically downwardly beneath shaft 22 and are thus in longitudinal alignment when the gates are closed. This is represented in Figure 8-A. As the motor 20 is connected to its power source and started the crank 26 is swung upwardly as indicated in Figure 8. During the movement of the crank 26 to the position 8-B the crank 26 assumes an angle with the arm 28. As a result a torque arm of increasing length comes into play as the crank 26 is swung up to a 90 angle with respect to its initial starting position. This position is illustrated in Figure 8-C. Crank 26 exerts its maximum torque effect on the system when in the latter position. As the arm 26 moves through the position, indicated in 8-B, and to its final stop position, 8-E, the effective length of the torque arm decreases.

As a result of this construction the gates are started from rest with an initially relatively slow movement but as the arms 26 swing upwardly the movement is accelerated until it reaches a top speed, about position 8-C, and thereafter the gates are decelerated until they come toan upper rest position. In lowering the reverse action occurs with an identical acceleration and deceleration as the crank 26 rotates through a second 180. The torque arm can rotate through a full 360' to accomplish the opening and then the closing movements, or a 180 rotation in one direction followed by a 180 rotation in the opposite direction can be used.

The above is accomplished with a single speed motor and without the changing of any gears or the use of any form of changeable transmission means, yet there is a most desirable acceleration and deceleration of the gates producing a rapid opening and closing movement without strain on the elements such as would be introduced by the inertia of the structure.

Figure 1 also illustrates a cutout switch 146 positioned on arm 30 and it is seen that cable 38 is connected to a switch operating frame 148 pivotally supported on a pin 150. Pin 150 is supported in a bracket con nected to the ends of the operating arms 36. Operating bracket 148 has a projecting switch operating arm 154 at its inner end which underlies the operating lever 1 56 of-switch 146. A rod 158 extends through a plate 160 connected to arm 30 and through a similar plate 162 connected to operating frame 148. The opening in plate 162 is larger than bolt 158. Bolt 158 is capped with a nut 164 and a spring 166 urges the operating arm 148 to pivot clockwise about pin 150 as viewed in Figure 2. This movement continues until the operating bracket 148 rests on the arm 30 as indicated in Figure 2. Should the gates hang up during the raising movemerits of the gates operating bracket 148 will overcome the force of spring 166 and pivot on pin 150, opening switch 146. Switch 146 is wired in series with switch 42 and the motor 20, and thus the motor will stop. As arm 28 is raised block 27 will slide on shaft 29.

The operation of the apparatus is quite obvious. When the motor 20 is energized arms 30 raise cables 38. This in turn rotates up dog 80 outwardly under longitudinal members 144. As cables 38 continue upwardly the hatchway and car gates are raised. As roller 112 leaves cam 113 down dog 125 and interlock arm 123 move out. Stop 128 prevents movement of down dog arm 126 past member 144. When the motor is reversed arms 38 lower by gravity. The gates are also lowered by gravitational force. Should either the hatchway or the car gates hang up and not lower at either side of the elevator the corresponding interlock switch within box 94 will prevent operation of the car. As a result the elevator cannot move. (The switches on both sides of the car are wired in series with the elevator motor power circuit.) If a hatchway gate sticks or strikes an obstruction such as a car bumper the associated car gate cannot lower unless the added weight of the car gate transmitted by the down dog is suflicient to force the hatchway gate down. If the gates should stick in raising the motor 20 will stop when the switch 146 opens.

Should dog 125 extend below bar 144 before the hatchway gate raises, the weight of the hatchway gate will cause the down dog to retract as the car gate raises. The up dog will then engage the hatchway gate and the down dogwill swing out again over bar 144.

While I have shown and described a preferred form of my invention it will be obvious that many changes in details or form can be made within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination, an'elevator, means for moving the elevator, an elevator door slidably connected to said elevator for up and down movement, retractable up dog means adapted to be extended to engage and lift a hatchway door in the upward movement of said elevator door, said up dog means being operative to render inoperative said elevator moving means, a retractable down dog adapted to engage said hatchway door in the downward movement of said elevator door, said down dog being retractable and extendible by means including a cam operable through movement of said elevator door.

2. In an elevator provided with means for moving the elevator, an elevator gate adapted to move in unison with a hatchway gate, cable means for opening said elevator gate, said cable means being operatively connected to a normally retracted up dogmeans extendible by the upward movement of said cable means, said up dog means being operative in its extended position to render inoperative said elevator moving means,'a down dog means adapted to be extended by upward movement of said elevator gate, and means adapted to be brought into locking engagement with said up dog means to prevent retraction of said up dog means while said elevator gate is raised.

3. In an elevator construction, an elevator car gate, a hatchway car gate, said gates being alignable through movement of said elevator, said car gates being vertically movable between raised open and lowered closed positions and normally being in closed position, means for raising said gates comprising a lifting member mounted on sad elevator car gate and connected to said elevator car gate through a lever pivotally mounted on said gate, a dog pivotally mounted on said gate, an element forming a part of said hatchway gate, said lever being connected to said dog and operable upon movement of said lifting member to exert a lifting force on said car gate to move said dog outwardly beneath said element,

and a safety stop means movable into the path of movement of said dog as said car gate is raised to maintain said dog beneath said element while said car gate is raised.

4. In an elevator construction, an elevator car gate, a hatchwaycar gate, said gates being alignable through movement of said elevator, said car gates being vertically movable between raised open and lowered closed positions and normally being in closed position, means for raising said gates comprising a lifting member mounted on said elevator car gate and connected to said elevator car gate through a lever pivotally mounted on said gate, a dog pivotally mounted on said gate, an element'forming a part of said hatchway gate, said lever being con:

nected to said dog and operable upon movement of said lifting member to exert a lifting force on said' car gate to move said dog outwardly beneath said element, means normally urging said lever and said dog to a position in which said dog is retracted from beneath said element and operable upon relaxation of lifting force on said lever to retract said dog.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 including a safety stop means connected to said car gate movable into the path of movement of said dog as said car gate is raised to prevent retraction of said dog' while said car gate is raised, a cam means connected to said safety stop means for operating said safety stop means comprising a cam element and a follower element, one'of the last named elements being fixed to said car, the other being connected to said stop means.

6. Theapparatus of claim 5 in which said cam means comprises a follower connected to said safety stop means and operable over said cam as said car gate is raised and lowered, and means normally urging said safety stop means out of the path of movement of said dog.

7. In an elevator construction, a car, said car having a gate, said gate being vertically movable for opening and closing movements, a hatchway gate, said hatchway gate and said elevator car gate being alignable through movement of said elevator, said hatchway gate being vertically movable for opening and closing movements, means for raising said gates comprising a lifting arm pivotally mounted on said elevator car and connected to said e1e vator car gate, means on said elevator car gate engageable with said hatchway car gate upon vertical movement of said elevator car gate for raising said hatchway car gate, drive means mounted on said elevator car for opening said gates comprising a lifting rod connected to said arm, motor means for driving said lifting rod, means connecting said motor and said rod, means adapted to accelerate movement of said arm in a lifting operation of said gates to attain a maximum desired speed of opening movement from a first rest position in which said gates are closed and to decelerate said arm during said lifting operation after said maximum speed is reached to decrease the speed of opening movement as said arm and said gates move into a second rest position in which said gates are open, and said gate raising means further comprising means operable to discontinue the gate lifting operation in response to an arrestment of the opening movement of said gates before they reach their fully open position.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 in which said means for accelerating and decelerating said lifting arm comprises a crank member pivotally connected to said lifting rod and movable through an arc of in an opening movement from said first rest position to said second rest position, said crank member constituting a torque arm means of varying length during the lifting operation.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 in which said means for accelerating and decelerating said gates comprises a crank arm pivotally connected to said lifting rod and in longitudinal alignment therewith in both said first rest position and said second rest position but being movable out of longitudinal alignment therewith during raising or loweringmovement ofsaidgates, said crank arm drivingly, Conl qtin sa motor to sa d ed V .0 beappa atusaf l i :7. in whi h said celer ti g means" comprising a torque arm pivotally connected to saidlifting rod and vertically paralleltherewith in the first and second restpositions of said elements and pivotal through an arc of 180, said crankarm drivingly connecting said motor means to said rod, said motor means being operable to rotate said crank arm out of longitudinal alignment with said-lifting rod to cause movement of said gate to open or closed positions.

11. In an elevator construction an elevator car, an elevator car; gate, a hatchway gate,said gates being alignable through movement of said car, means for opening both of said gates simultaneously comprising a lifting arm connected to said elevator car gate and pivotally mounted on said elevator car, means on said elevator car gate engageable with said hatchway car gate during lifting movement of said elevator car gate, the last named means being connected to a cam engageable with said elevator car and being operable through movement of said elevator car gate to cause said last named means to engage the hatchway-car gate, means for raising said gates from a closed rest position to an open rest position and first accelerating the said gates as they move out of this first rest position and then decelerating said gates as they move into said second rest position comprising a lifting rod connected to said gate lifting arm, a crank connected to said lifting rodand pivotal with respect thereto, power means connected to said crank, said crank being in longitudinal alignment with said rod in said first and said second rest positions but being pivotal out of alignment therewith during opening and closing movements of said gates, and said gate opening means further comprising means operableto discontinue the gate lifting operationqinv response to an arrestment of the opening movement of said gates before they reach their fully open position.

12. In elevator construction, an elevator car gate, a hatchway gate adapted to be aligned with said car gate, a frame element on said hatchway gate, a, dog onsaid car gate pivotal into a position beneath said frame element when said gates are in alignment, said gates being adapted to remain in a normal position and being held in said position by gravitationalforce, said gates being vertically movable upwardly to open position, said dog when pivoted to position beneath said'element being engageable with said element upon vertical movement of said elevator car gate to force said hatchway gate upwardly, a second dog movably mounted on said car gate and movable outwardly therefrom into a position above said element as said car gate moves vertically and constituting means for engaging said element and forcing said hatchway gate vertically downwardly as said car gate moves downwardly should said hatchway gate stick in its downward movement under the influence of gravity when said car gate moves downwardly, said second dog having a cam means associated therewith causing retraction of said second dog inwardly into said car gate as said car gate moves vertically downwardly to said normal closed position, said cam means being operable as said gates approach the end of their downward movement.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,494,061 Christiansen May 13, 1924 1,336,059 Bancroft Dec. 15, 1931 1,972,258 Boyle Sept. 4, 1934 2,663,436 Bowse'r Dec. 22, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION December 9,. 1958 Patent No. 2,863,529

I Virgil c. Bowser above numbered patent pears in the d read as corhat error ap It is hereby certified t aid Letters Patent shoul requiring correction and that the s rected below.

to the printed and in the heading a" read a corpo- In the grant, lines 2 and 3,

"a corporation of IOW specification, lines 4 and 5, for ration of Delaware Signed and sealed this 12th day of May 1959.

(SEAL) KARL AXLINE v noun 0. WATSON Cunnissioner of Patents Attesting Officer 

